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Florida Bar suspends Sarasota attorney

Published: Monday, November 4, 2013 at 10:29 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 4, 2013 at 10:29 a.m.

SARASOTA - The Florida Bar has suspended Sarasota attorney Kenneth D. Doerr for four months, after finding he kept a check from a dying client instead of donating it to a gay charity per the man's wishes.

The Bar also found that Doerr failed to disclose a conflict of interest with two clients who had "adverse interests and wishes."

Doerr practices in the areas of estate planning, probate administration and corporate law, and also is a certified public accountant.

He has worked at several local firms.

Doerr did not respond to emails or phone calls seeking comment for this story.

According to documents filed with the court, in January 2008, one of Doerr's colleagues at a Sarasota accounting firm discovered a payment of $33,126.57 from the estate of "Client X," which Doerr had directed to be paid to himself.

Doerr had met with the client shortly before his death, and was told that the money was to go to a gay charity.

"Client X did not want it written in his will because he did not want his family to know he was gay," the documents state.

Doerr told Client X that "he would take care of the contribution for him."

Doerr eventually sent a $33,126.57 check to a charity — one month after the payment was discovered. He resigned from the accounting firm a month later.

In a separate case, the bar found Doerr failed to disclose a conflict of interest when he represented both the estate of the owner of a boat hoist company, and a firm that was interested in buying the business.

Even after the prospective buyer had retained another attorney, court records indicate that Doerr "prepared documents creating new entities for the purchase; drafted purchase and sale agreements; and assisted in securing financing for the transaction."

The Bar concluded Doerr "displayed a lack of diligence and candor by not disclosing to each client his representing the other."

Doerr was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1996, and had no prior disciplinary record.

He was also assessed $2,758 — the administrative costs of the investigation.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - The Florida Bar has suspended Sarasota attorney Kenneth D. Doerr for four months, after finding he kept a check from a dying client instead of donating it to a gay charity per the man's wishes.</p><p>The Bar also found that Doerr failed to disclose a conflict of interest with two clients who had "adverse interests and wishes."</p><p>Doerr practices in the areas of estate planning, probate administration and corporate law, and also is a certified public accountant.</p><p>He has worked at several local firms.</p><p>Doerr did not respond to emails or phone calls seeking comment for this story. </p><p>According to documents filed with the court, in January 2008, one of Doerr's colleagues at a Sarasota accounting firm discovered a payment of $33,126.57 from the estate of "Client X," which Doerr had directed to be paid to himself.</p><p>Doerr had met with the client shortly before his death, and was told that the money was to go to a gay charity.</p><p>"Client X did not want it written in his will because he did not want his family to know he was gay," the documents state.</p><p>Doerr told Client X that "he would take care of the contribution for him." </p><p>Doerr eventually sent a $33,126.57 check to a charity — one month after the payment was discovered. He resigned from the accounting firm a month later.</p><p>In a separate case, the bar found Doerr failed to disclose a conflict of interest when he represented both the estate of the owner of a boat hoist company, and a firm that was interested in buying the business.</p><p>Even after the prospective buyer had retained another attorney, court records indicate that Doerr "prepared documents creating new entities for the purchase; drafted purchase and sale agreements; and assisted in securing financing for the transaction."</p><p>The Bar concluded Doerr "displayed a lack of diligence and candor by not disclosing to each client his representing the other."</p><p>Doerr was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1996, and had no prior disciplinary record. </p><p>He was also assessed $2,758 — the administrative costs of the investigation.</p>